KR102806193B1 - Electronic device for providing wireless charging function and operating method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic device providing a wireless charging function and an operating method thereof, wherein the electronic device supporting a wireless charging function may include a housing, a first sensor layer disposed within the housing and including a first electrode pattern and a plurality of first openings formed on the first electrode pattern, a second sensor layer disposed below the first sensor layer and including a second electrode pattern and a plurality of second openings formed on the second electrode pattern, and a wireless charging coil disposed below the second sensor layer and configured to wirelessly transmit power through the plurality of first openings and the plurality of second openings.

Description

{ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR PROVIDING WIRELESS CHARGING FUNCTION AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF}

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic device providing a wireless charging function and a method of operating the same.

Electronic devices (e.g., mobile terminals, smart phones, or wearable devices) may provide various functions. For example, in addition to basic voice communication functions, the electronic device may provide short-range wireless communication functions, mobile communication (3G (generation), 4G, or 5G) functions, music playback functions, video playback functions, shooting functions, navigation functions, or wireless charging functions.

Electronic devices can charge their batteries without using a separate charging cable by utilizing wireless charging capabilities. For example, electronic devices can charge their batteries by utilizing electromagnetic induction or electromagnetic resonance that occurs between a power transmitting unit (e.g., a wireless power transmitting coil) and a wireless power receiving unit (e.g., a wireless power receiving coil).

Additionally, the electronic device may also provide a battery sharing function that wirelessly shares charging power with other electronic devices using the wireless charging function.

An electronic device providing a battery sharing function may include a wireless power transmitting coil. The performance of such a battery sharing function may be related to the material of the electronic device (e.g., the material of the housing). For example, if a metal material is applied to the housing of the electronic device, a problem may occur in which the transmission of charging power generated by the wireless power transmitting coil is hindered. This may reduce the satisfaction of a user who wishes to utilize the battery sharing function of the electronic device.

Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention provide an electronic device and a method of operating the same for improving wireless charging performance by using an electronic device including a touch pad formed of a sensor layer including an electrode pattern and a plurality of openings formed in at least a portion of the electrode pattern, a ground layer aligned with the electrode pattern and including at least one opening, and a wireless power transmitting coil disposed under the touch pad and configured to wirelessly transmit charging power through the plurality of openings.

The technical problems to be achieved in this document are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

An electronic device supporting a wireless charging function according to various embodiments of the present invention may include a housing, a first sensor layer disposed within the housing and including a first electrode pattern and a plurality of first openings formed on the first electrode pattern, a second sensor layer disposed below the first sensor layer and including a second electrode pattern and a plurality of second openings formed on the second electrode pattern, and a wireless charging coil disposed below the second sensor layer and configured to wirelessly transmit power through the plurality of first openings and the plurality of second openings.

A method of operating an electronic device including a touch pad and a wireless charging coil, the touch pad including an electrode pattern and a plurality of openings formed on the electrode pattern according to various embodiments of the present invention may include an operation of performing a touch detection mode for detecting a contact by an input target using at least one electrode pattern of the touch pad, and an operation of performing a charging mode for wirelessly transmitting power through the plurality of openings using the wireless charging coil in response to receiving an input of a designated first control key.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention can improve the performance of a wireless charging function by using a touch pad formed of a sensor layer including an electrode pattern and a plurality of openings formed in at least a portion of the electrode pattern, a ground layer aligned with the electrode pattern and including at least one opening, and a wireless power transmitting coil disposed under the touch pad and configured to wirelessly transmit charging power through the plurality of openings.

The effects obtainable from the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains from the description below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device within a network environment according to various embodiments.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an unfolded state of an electronic device equipped with a touch pad according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a touch pad device according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4a is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a touch pad according to various embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 4b is a diagram illustrating a state in which a first sensor layer, a second sensor layer, and a ground layer of a touch panel according to various embodiments of the present invention are combined.
FIG. 5a is a drawing showing an opening formed in a touch pad having a bar-shaped electrode pattern according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 5b is another drawing showing an opening formed in a touch pad having a bar-shaped electrode pattern according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 5c is another drawing showing an opening formed in a touch pad having a bar-shaped electrode pattern according to various embodiments of the present invention.
Figure 6a shows measurement values representing the electrostatic capacitance characteristics of a typical touch pad.
Figure 6b shows measurement values representing the electrostatic capacitance characteristics of the touch pad according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for providing a wireless charging function in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for performing a charging mode in an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In addition, when describing embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. In addition, the terms described below are terms defined in consideration of the functions of the present invention, and may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user or operator. Therefore, the definitions should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device (101) in a network environment (100) according to various embodiments. Referring to FIG. 1, in the network environment (100), the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (102) through a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or may communicate with the electronic device (104) or a server (108) through a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (104) through the server (108). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120), a memory (130), an input device (150), an audio output device (155), a display device (160), an audio module (170), a sensor module (176), an interface (177), a haptic module (179), a camera module (180), a power management module (188), a battery (189), a communication module (190), a subscriber identification module (196), or an antenna module (197). In some embodiments, the electronic device (101) may omit at least one of these components (e.g., the display device (160) or the camera module (180)), or may include one or more other components. In some embodiments, some of these components may be implemented as a single integrated circuit. For example, a sensor module (176) (e.g., a fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, or a light sensor) may be implemented embedded in a display device (160) (e.g., a display).

The processor (120) may control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device (101) connected to the processor (120) by executing, for example, software (e.g., a program (140)), and may perform various data processing or calculations. According to one embodiment, as at least a part of the data processing or calculation, the processor (120) may load a command or data received from another component (e.g., a sensor module (176) or a communication module (190)) into a volatile memory (132), process the command or data stored in the volatile memory (132), and store result data in a non-volatile memory (134). According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may include a main processor (121) (e.g., a central processing unit or an application processor), and a secondary processor (123) (e.g., a graphic processing unit, an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor) that may operate independently or together therewith. Additionally or alternatively, the auxiliary processor (123) may be configured to use less power than the main processor (121), or to be specialized for a given function. The auxiliary processor (123) may be implemented separately from the main processor (121), or as a part thereof.

The auxiliary processor (123) may control at least a portion of functions or states associated with at least one of the components of the electronic device (101) (e.g., the display device (160), the sensor module (176), or the communication module (190)), for example, on behalf of the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an active (e.g., application execution) state. According to one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as a part of another functionally related component (e.g., a camera module (180) or a communication module (190)).

The memory (130) can store various data used by at least one component (e.g., processor (120) or sensor module (176)) of the electronic device (101). The data can include, for example, software (e.g., program (140)) and input data or output data for commands related thereto. The memory (130) can include volatile memory (132) or nonvolatile memory (134).

The program (140) may be stored as software in memory (130) and may include, for example, an operating system (142), middleware (144), or an application (146).

The input device (150) can receive commands or data to be used in a component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a processor (120)) from an external source (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The input device (150) can include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

The audio output device (155) can output an audio signal to the outside of the electronic device (101). The audio output device (155) can include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker can be used for general purposes such as multimedia playback or recording playback, and the receiver can be used to receive an incoming call. According to one embodiment, the receiver can be implemented separately from the speaker or as a part thereof.

The display device (160) can visually provide information to an external party (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The display device (160) can include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector and a control circuit for controlling the device. According to one embodiment, the display device (160) can include touch circuitry configured to detect a touch, or a sensor circuitry configured to measure a strength of a force generated by the touch (e.g., a pressure sensor).

The audio module (170) can convert sound into an electrical signal, or vice versa, convert an electrical signal into sound. According to one embodiment, the audio module (170) can obtain sound through an input device (150), or output sound through an audio output device (155), or an external electronic device (e.g., an electronic device (102)) directly or wirelessly connected to the electronic device (101) (e.g., a speaker or headphone).

The sensor module (176) can detect an operating state (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device (101) or an external environmental state (e.g., user state) and generate an electric signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. According to one embodiment, the sensor module (176) can include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

The interface (177) may support one or more designated protocols that may be used to directly or wirelessly connect the electronic device (101) to an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the interface (177) may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, or an audio interface.

The connection terminal (178) may include a connector through which the electronic device (101) may be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the connection terminal (178) may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

The haptic module (179) can convert an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus (e.g., vibration or movement) or an electrical stimulus that a user can perceive through a tactile or kinesthetic sense. According to one embodiment, the haptic module (179) can include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

The camera module (180) can capture still images and moving images. According to one embodiment, the camera module (180) can include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

The power management module (188) can manage power supplied to the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) can be implemented as, for example, at least a part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

The battery (189) can power at least one component of the electronic device (101). In one embodiment, the battery (189) can include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.

The communication module (190) may support establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102), the electronic device (104), or the server (108)), and performance of communication through the established communication channel. The communication module (190) may operate independently from the processor (120) (e.g., the application processor) and may include one or more communication processors that support direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to one embodiment, the communication module (190) may include a wireless communication module (192) (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a GNSS (global navigation satellite system) communication module) or a wired communication module (194) (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication module). A corresponding communication module among these communication modules can communicate with an external electronic device via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, WiFi direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range communication network such as a cellular network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN)). These various types of communication modules can be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as multiple separate components (e.g., multiple chips). The wireless communication module (192) can identify and authenticate the electronic device (101) within a communication network such as the first network (198) or the second network (199) by using subscriber information (e.g., an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module (196).

The antenna module (197) can transmit or receive signals or power to or from an external device (e.g., an external electronic device). According to one embodiment, the antenna module can include one antenna including a radiator formed of a conductor or a conductive pattern formed on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). According to one embodiment, the antenna module (197) can include a plurality of antennas. In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication method used in a communication network, such as the first network (198) or the second network (199), can be selected from the plurality of antennas by, for example, the communication module (190). A signal or power can be transmitted or received between the communication module (190) and the external electronic device via the selected at least one antenna. According to some embodiments, in addition to the radiator, another component (e.g., an RFIC) can be additionally formed as a part of the antenna module (197).

At least some of the above components may be connected to each other and exchange signals (e.g., commands or data) with each other via a communication method between peripheral devices (e.g., a bus, a general purpose input and output (GPIO), a serial peripheral interface (SPI), or a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI)).

According to one embodiment, a command or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (104) via a server (108) connected to a second network (199). Each of the electronic devices (102, 104) may be the same or a different type of device as the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, all or part of the operations executed in the electronic device (101) may be executed in one or more of the external electronic devices (102, 104, or 108). For example, when the electronic device (101) is to perform a certain function or service automatically or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device (101) may, instead of or in addition to executing the function or service by itself, request one or more external electronic devices to perform at least a part of the function or service. One or more external electronic devices that have received the request may execute at least a part of the requested function or service, or an additional function or service related to the request, and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device (101). The electronic device (101) may process the result as is or additionally and provide it as at least a part of a response to the request. For this purpose, for example, cloud computing, distributed computing, or client-server computing technology may be used.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view (200) showing an unfolded state of an electronic device (101) equipped with a touch pad according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, an electronic device (101) according to various embodiments may include a first electronic device (210), a second electronic device (220), and a connecting portion (230) connecting the first electronic device (210) and the second electronic device (220). The connecting portion (230) may mechanically or electrically connect the first electronic device (210) and the second electronic device (220). When the first electronic device (210) and the second electronic device (220) are mechanically connected, a hinge may be employed if a rotation axis is provided, and a folding device may be provided if the device is folded or unfolded. In addition, at least one of the first electronic device (210) or the second electronic device (220) may have a structure that is detachable and/or mountable from the connecting portion (230). If the first electronic device (210) and the second electronic device (220) are electrically connected, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) can be employed.

The first electronic device (210) according to various embodiments may include a first housing (211) that protects various electronic components and is responsible for the appearance. The first housing (211) according to various embodiments may include a first side facing in a first direction and a second side facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The first side may be an inner surface of the electronic device (101), and the second side may be an outer surface of the electronic device (101). In addition, the first side may be an upper surface (or front surface) of the first electronic device (210), and the second side may be a rear surface of the first electronic device (210).

According to various embodiments, a first housing (211) may have a plurality of keys (212), a touch pad (214), and a palmrest (213) arranged on a first surface. Since a plurality of keys (212) are arranged on a first surface of the first housing (2111), the first housing (2111) may be referred to as a data input device or a keyboard or a keyboard housing. The plurality of keys (212) may be arranged in a QWERY key arrangement. An area where the plurality of keys (212) arranged on the first housing (211) are arranged may be referred to as a keyboard area.

The first surface of the first housing (211) may include a first area (a1) in which a plurality of keys (212) are arranged, a second area (a2) in which a touch pad (214) is arranged, and a third area (a3) in which a palm rest (213) is arranged. The first area (a1), the second area (a2), and the third area (a3) may not overlap each other and may be arranged parallel to each other. The third area (a3) may be formed on both left and right sides of the second area (a2). For example, the third area (a3) may be formed of a metal material. However, this is merely an example, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. For example, the third area (a3) may be formed of a material other than a metal material, or may be formed of a combination of a metal material and another material.

According to various embodiments, the touch pad (241) may be a printed circuit board or a flexible printed circuit board.

According to various embodiments, the position of the touch pad (214) may correspond to a position where a wireless charging device (e.g., a wireless power transmitting coil) is placed, as described later with reference to FIG. 3. For example, the touch pad (214) may be placed on an upper side of the wireless charging device. In addition, the touch pad (214) may include at least one opening so that a path is formed through which charging power generated by the wireless charging device is transmitted, as described later with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5, and 5B.

The second electronic device (220) according to various embodiments may include a second housing (221) that protects various electronic components and is responsible for the appearance. The second housing (211) according to various embodiments may include a first side facing in a first direction and a second side facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The first side may be an inner surface of the electronic device (101), and the second side may be an outer surface of the electronic device (101). In addition, the first side may be an upper surface (or front surface) of the second electronic device (220), and the second side may be a rear surface of the second electronic device (220).

A display (222) may be arranged on the first surface of the second housing (211). The display (222) is provided with a touch-sensitive panel and can operate as a touch screen. The second electronic device (220) may be referred to as a display device because it is provided with the display (222).

The structure of the electronic device (101) described above is only exemplary, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. For example, at least one of the components of the electronic device (101) described above may be omitted or another component may be added. For example, a ventilation hole may be formed on a side of the electronic device (101) so that air introduced from the outside passes through the inside of the electronic device (101) and is then discharged so that heat generated inside the electronic device (101) is cooled.

Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawing, the structure of the touch pad (214) mounted on the second area (a2) of the first electronic device (210) will be described.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view (300) of a touch pad device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the touch pad device may further include a touch pad (214) that a human hand touches and a support member (310) that supports or fixes the touch pad (214).

According to various embodiments, the touch pad (214) may detect a predetermined signal when an input target (e.g., at least a part of a body, an electronic pen, etc.) comes into contact with the touch pad, and may process the signal to input a location that the user wishes to point to. For example, the touch pad (214) may process information about coordinates of a touched point (e.g., an X-axis coordinate and/or a Y-axis coordinate). In addition, a connecting member (330) (e.g., a cable and a connector) configured to detect an external signal and transmit it to an electronic device (101) (e.g., a processor (120)) may be mounted on one end of the touch pad (214).

According to various embodiments, a wireless charging device (320) configured to transmit wireless charging power may be disposed on the lower side of the touch pad (214). According to one embodiment, the wireless charging device (320) may include a charging coil (e.g., a power receiving and/or power transmitting coil) (322) for wireless charging. For example, the wireless charging device (320) may wirelessly provide power required by another electronic device using the charging coil (322). For example, the wireless charging device (320) may be stacked on the lower side of the touch pad (214).

According to various embodiments, the wireless charging device (320) may be a printed circuit board or a flexible printed circuit board having a pattern of charging coils (322) arranged thereon.

According to various embodiments, the support member (310) may include a pad housing (312) in which the touch pad (214) and the wireless charging device (320) are installed inside. For example, the pad housing (312) may have a mounting portion (312a) formed therein so that the touch pad and the wireless charging device (320) may be mounted. For example, the size of the mounting portion (312a) may correspond to the sizes of the touch pad (214) and the wireless charging device (320).

At least a portion of the aforementioned touch pad device (e.g., the touch pad (214)) may have a structure in which it is exposed through an opening (302) formed in at least a portion of the first housing (211) of the electronic device (101). The opening (302) is formed in at least a portion of the first housing (211) corresponding to the touch pad (214) and the wireless charging device (320), and may have a size corresponding to the sizes of the touch pad (214) and the wireless charging device (320).

In addition, the touch pad device may include additional configurations in addition to the aforementioned configurations. According to one embodiment, the upper side of the touch pad (214) may further include a cover member for protecting the touch pad (214). For example, the cover member may include a glass plate, an FRP (Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastics) plate, a PVF (polyvinyl fluoride) film, a milar film, a polyester film, or an acrylic film. However, this is merely exemplary, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the cover member may be composed of various types of materials that do not interfere with transmission of wireless charging power. According to another embodiment, an insulating layer may be additionally included between the touch pad (214) and the wireless charging device (320), and the touch pad (214) and the wireless charging device (320) may be electrically insulated by the insulating layer.

In addition, as described above, the touch pad (214) and the wireless charging device (320) may have separate structures. However, this is only an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the wireless charging device (320) and the touch pad (214) may have an integrated structure.

FIG. 4a is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a touch pad (214) according to various embodiments of the present invention. And, FIG. 4b is a diagram illustrating a state in which a first sensor layer, a second sensor layer, and a ground layer of a touch panel according to various embodiments of the present invention are combined.

Referring to FIG. 4a, the touch pad (214) may include a first sensor layer (410) having a first electrode pattern formed, a second sensor layer (420) having a second electrode pattern formed, and a ground layer (430).

According to various embodiments, the first sensor layer (410) may include a plurality of first electrode patterns (412) formed in a first direction (e.g., X-axis direction). In addition, each of the first electrode patterns (412) may be electrically connected to each other to enable detection of a touched point. According to one embodiment, the first electrode patterns (412) may be regularly formed in a diamond shape. However, this is merely exemplary, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the shape of the first electrode pattern may be formed in a bar shape, as described below with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B , and may also be formed in various shapes.

According to various embodiments, the second sensor layer (420) may include a plurality of second electrode patterns (422) formed in a second direction (e.g., Y-axis direction) different from the first direction. In addition, each of the second electrode patterns (422) may be electrically connected to each other to enable detection of a touched point. According to one embodiment, the second electrode pattern (422) may have the same shape as the first electrode pattern (412). However, this is merely exemplary, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the shape of the first electrode pattern (412) and the shape of the second electrode pattern (422) may not correspond to each other.

According to various embodiments, the first electrode pattern (412) may include at least one opening (414), and the second electrode pattern (422) may also include at least one opening (424). According to one embodiment, the openings (414), (424) formed in the first electrode pattern (412) and the second electrode pattern (422) may form a path along which charging power generated by the wireless charging device (320) is transmitted. For example, the opening (414) formed in the first electrode pattern (412) and the opening (424) formed in the second electrode pattern (422) may have a 4×4 array and a diamond shape, as illustrated in FIG. 4A. However, this is merely exemplary, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the openings (414), (424) formed in the first electrode pattern (412) and the second electrode pattern (422) can have various arrangements, and the shape, size, and number of the openings are also not limited.

According to various embodiments, the ground layer (430) may be formed with at least one ground pattern (432). The ground pattern (432) may include a plurality of first ground patterns (432-1) formed in a first direction (e.g., X-axis direction) and a plurality of second ground patterns (432-3) formed in a second direction (e.g., Y-axis direction) different from the first direction. However, this is merely exemplary, and embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

According to one embodiment, charging power generated by a wireless charging device (320) may be transmitted using a space (432-5) formed between ground patterns (e.g., 432-1, 432-3).

According to one embodiment, the ground pattern (432) may be aligned with at least one of the first electrode pattern (412) or the second electrode pattern (422). For example, the first ground pattern (432-1) may be aligned with the first electrode pattern (412), and the second ground pattern (432-3) may be aligned with the second electrode pattern (422).

According to various embodiments, the first ground pattern (432-1) and the second ground pattern (432-3) may be electrically connected to form one ground pattern.

According to various embodiments, the ground pattern (432) may have the same shape as the first electrode pattern (412) and the second electrode pattern (422). In addition, the position of the ground pattern (432) may correspond to the position of the first electrode pattern (412) and the position of the second electrode pattern (422). However, this is merely exemplary, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, at least a portion of the ground pattern (432) may not correspond to the shape of the electrode pattern (e.g., the first electrode pattern (412) and the second electrode pattern (422)) and the position of the electrode pattern (e.g., the first electrode pattern (412) and the second electrode pattern (422)).

According to various embodiments, at least one opening (434) may be formed in the ground layer (430) (e.g., the ground pattern (432)). According to one embodiment, the position of the opening (434) formed in the ground layer (430) may correspond to the position of the opening (414) formed in the first electrode pattern (412) and the position of the opening (424) formed in the second electrode pattern (422).

According to various embodiments, the touch pad (214) may be formed by combining a first sensor layer (410), a second sensor layer (420), and a ground layer (430). As illustrated in FIG. 4B, a first electrode pattern (412) and a second electrode pattern (422) may be evenly formed on the entire surface of the touch pad (214) by the first sensor layer (410) and the second sensor layer (420), and openings (414), (424), (434) formed by the first sensor layer (410), the second sensor layer (420), and the ground layer (420) may also be evenly formed on the entire surface of the touch pad (214). By these openings (414), (424), (434), the charging power can pass through the touch pad (214) without being blocked by the first sensor layer (410), the second sensor layer (420), and the ground layer (430), thereby improving the wireless charging efficiency of the wireless charging device (320) (or the electronic device (101)). In addition, as described above, the ground layer (430) can be aligned with at least one of the first electrode pattern or the second electrode pattern, thereby preventing the electrostatic capacitance value of the touch pad (214) from being changed by the wireless charging device (320), as described below with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B.

Although the first electrode pattern (412), the second electrode pattern (422), and the ground pattern (432) of the aforementioned touch pad (214) have been described as being formed on different layers, this is merely exemplary and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, at least one of the first electrode pattern (412), the second electrode pattern (422), or the ground pattern (432) may be formed on the same layer. In addition, although it has been described that at least one opening (414), (424), (434) is formed in each of the first electrode pattern (412), the second electrode pattern (422), and the ground pattern (432) of the aforementioned touch pad (214), at least one opening may be formed in only at least one pattern of the first electrode pattern (412), the second electrode pattern (422), or the ground pattern (432).

FIG. 5A is a drawing (500) showing an opening formed in a touch pad having a bar-shaped electrode pattern according to various embodiments of the present invention. In addition, FIG. 5B is another drawing (540) showing an opening formed in a touch pad having a bar-shaped electrode pattern according to various embodiments of the present invention. In addition, FIG. 5C is another drawing (570) showing an opening formed in a touch pad having a bar-shaped electrode pattern according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5A, unlike the touch pad (214) described above with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the touch pad (570) may be formed by combining a first sensor layer (510) in which a first bar-shaped electrode pattern is formed in a first direction (e.g., X-axis direction), a second sensor layer (520) in which a second bar-shaped electrode pattern is formed in a second direction (e.g., Y-axis direction), and a ground layer (530). According to one embodiment, the first sensor layer (510) (or the first electrode pattern) may include at least one opening (512), and the second sensor layer (520) (or the second electrode pattern) may also include at least one opening (522). In addition, at least one opening (532) may also be formed in the ground layer (530). According to one embodiment, the position of the opening (532) formed in the ground layer (530) may correspond to the position of the opening (512) formed in the first layer (510) and the position of the opening (522) formed in the second layer (520). For example, at least one opening (512), (522), (532) formed in the first sensor layer (510), the second sensor layer (520), or the ground layer (530) may have a rectangular shape as illustrated. However, this is merely exemplary, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5b, the touch pad (540) may include circular openings (514), (524), (534) formed in the first sensor layer (510), the second sensor layer (520), and the ground layer (530), and furthermore, the openings may have various shapes such as a hexagon or a triangle. As another example, an opening formed in at least one of the first sensor layer (510), the second sensor layer (520), or the ground layer (530) may have a different shape from openings formed in other layers. For example, the first sensor layer (510) and the second sensor layer (520) may include openings of different shapes. As another example, a plurality of openings having different shapes may be formed in at least one of the first sensor layer (510), the second sensor layer (520), or the ground layer (530). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5c, the ground layer (530) of the touch pad (570) may include a first group of openings (516), (526) (e.g., circular openings) corresponding to the shapes of the openings of the first sensor layer (510) and the second sensor layer (520), and a second group of openings (536) (e.g., square openings) having a different shape from the openings of the first group.

Fig. 6a shows measurement values (610), (620) representing electrostatic capacitance characteristics of a typical touch pad. In addition, Fig. 6b shows measurement values (630), (640) representing electrostatic capacitance characteristics of a touch pad according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6a, reference numeral 610 is a digitally converted value of the initial electrostatic capacitance of a typical touch pad, and it can be seen that the electrostatic capacitance values measured at each coordinate have relatively similar values. Specifically, the standard deviation value for the initial electrostatic capacitance values for each coordinate appears to have a value of approximately 33.28141358.

In addition, reference numeral 620 is a digitally converted value of the initial electrostatic capacity for the touch pad in a situation where a wireless charging device (320) is applied to the bottom of the touch pad where a ground layer is not formed, and compared to reference numeral 610, it appears that a change has occurred in the electrostatic capacity for some coordinates (622) of the touch pad. Specifically, the standard deviation value for the initial electrostatic capacity for each coordinate appears to have increased to a value of approximately 642.4766106, which can be seen as a change in the electrostatic capacity for some coordinates of the touch pad due to the charging power generated by the charging coil of the conductive material applied to the bottom of the touch pad being blocked by the touch pad.

Referring to FIG. 6b, reference numeral 630 is a digitally converted value of an initial electrostatic capacitance of a touch pad according to the present invention in which at least one opening and a ground layer are formed, and it can be seen that the electrostatic capacitance values measured at each coordinate have relatively similar values similar to reference numeral 610. Specifically, the standard deviation value for the initial electrostatic capacitance value for each coordinate has a value of approximately 30.25583053, and it seems to be somewhat lower than the digitally converted value (610) of the electrostatic capacitance of a general touch pad. In general, the lower the electrostatic capacitance, the better the sensing performance of the touch pad, and it can be seen that the sensing performance of the touch pad is improved by the opening and the ground layer of the touch pad.

In addition, reference numeral 640 is a digitally converted value of the initial electrostatic capacity for the touchpad when a wireless charging device is applied to the bottom of the touchpad according to the present invention, and it appears that the change in electrostatic capacity is minimal compared to reference numeral 630. Specifically, the standard deviation value for the initial electrostatic capacity value for the coordinate (642) corresponding to the coordinate where the change in electrostatic capacity occurs, such as reference numeral 622 of FIG. 6A, appears to have a value of approximately 33.36133702, which can be seen from the fact that the charging power generated by the charging coil made of a conductive material applied to the bottom of the touchpad is not blocked by the touchpad, and thus does not change the electrostatic capacity for some coordinates of the touchpad.

An electronic device (e.g., an electronic device (101)) supporting a wireless charging function according to various embodiments may include a housing (e.g., a first housing (211)), a first sensor layer (e.g., a first sensor layer (410)) disposed within the housing and including a first electrode pattern (e.g., a first electrode pattern (412)) and a plurality of first openings (e.g., openings (414)) formed on the first electrode pattern, a second sensor layer (e.g., a second sensor layer (420)) disposed below the first sensor layer and including a second electrode pattern (e.g., a second electrode pattern (422)) and a plurality of second openings (e.g., openings (424)) formed on the second electrode pattern, and a wireless charging coil (e.g., a wireless charging coil (322)) disposed below the second sensor layer and configured to wirelessly transmit power through the plurality of first openings and the plurality of second openings.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device supporting the wireless charging function may further include a ground layer (e.g., ground layer (430)) disposed below the second sensor layer and configured to be aligned with at least one of the first electrode pattern or the second electrode pattern.

According to various embodiments, the ground layer can be disposed between the second sensor layer and the wireless charging coil.

According to various embodiments, the ground layer includes at least one third aperture (e.g., aperture (434)), and power generated by the wireless charging coil can be wirelessly transmitted through the plurality of first apertures, the plurality of second apertures, and the at least one third aperture.

According to various embodiments, the at least one third opening may correspond to at least one of the positions of the plurality of first openings or the positions of the plurality of second openings.

According to various embodiments, the at least one third opening may correspond to at least one of the shapes of the plurality of first openings or the shapes of the plurality of second openings.

According to various embodiments, the at least one third opening may correspond to at least one of the number of the plurality of first openings or the number of the plurality of second openings.

According to various embodiments, the first sensor layer and the second sensor layer can be configured to detect contact by an input target.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device supporting the wireless charging function may further include at least one control key (e.g., key (212)) configured to control the wireless charging function and a processor (e.g., processor (120)) configured to activate the wireless charging coil in response to receiving an input of the control key activating the wireless charging function.

According to various embodiments, the processor may be configured to deactivate the first sensor layer and the second sensor layer when operation of the wireless charging coil is activated.

According to various embodiments, the processor may be configured to deactivate the wireless charging coil in response to receiving an input of a control key for deactivating the wireless charging function in an activated state of the wireless charging function.

According to various embodiments, the processor may be configured to activate the first sensor layer and the second sensor layer in response to receiving an input of a control key for deactivating the wireless charging function.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart (700) for providing a wireless charging function in an electronic device (101) according to various embodiments of the present invention. In the following embodiments, each operation may be performed sequentially, but is not necessarily performed sequentially. For example, the order of each operation may be changed, and at least two operations may be performed in parallel.

Referring to FIG. 7, according to various embodiments, the electronic device (101) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) may perform a touch detection mode in operation 710. According to one embodiment, the touch detection mode may be a mode that activates the touch pad (214) and deactivates the wireless charging device (320) (e.g., the wireless charging coil (322)).

According to various embodiments, the electronic device (101) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) may receive an input instructing a mode change at operation 720. The input instructing the mode change may be an input for at least one key among a plurality of keys (212) arranged in the electronic device (101). For example, the electronic device (101) may include at least one control key for controlling a wireless charging function, and the processor (120) may receive a user input for the control key instructing activation of wireless charging.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device (101) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) may stop the touch detection mode and perform the charging mode at operation 730. According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may activate the wireless charging device (320) to perform the charging mode. According to another embodiment, the processor (120) may deactivate the touch pad (214) while the charging mode is performed to prevent unnecessary power consumption.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (800) for performing a charging mode in an electronic device (101) according to various embodiments of the present invention. The operations of FIG. 8 described below may represent various embodiments of operation 730 of FIG. 7. In addition, in the embodiments below, each operation may be performed sequentially, but is not necessarily performed sequentially. For example, the order of each operation may be changed, and at least two operations may be performed in parallel.

Referring to FIG. 8, according to various embodiments, the electronic device (101) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) may determine, in operation 810, whether an input instructing termination of the charging mode is received while performing the charging mode. The input instructing termination of the charging mode may be an input for at least one key among a plurality of keys (212) arranged in the electronic device (101). For example, the processor (120) may determine whether a user input for a control key instructing deactivation of wireless charging is received.

According to various embodiments, if an input instructing termination of the charging mode is not received, the electronic device (101) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1 ) may maintain the charging mode at operation 830. According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may maintain activation of the wireless charging device (320).

According to various embodiments, when an input instructing termination of a charging mode is received, the electronic device (101) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) may terminate the charging mode and perform a touch detection mode at operation 820. According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may process the wireless charging device (320) to be deactivated.

A method of operating an electronic device including a touch pad and a wireless charging coil, the touch pad including an electrode pattern and a plurality of openings formed on the electrode pattern according to various embodiments may include an operation of performing a touch detection mode for detecting a contact by an input target using at least one electrode pattern of the touch pad, and an operation of performing a charging mode for wirelessly transmitting power through the plurality of openings using the wireless charging coil in response to receiving an input of a designated first control key.

According to various embodiments, the act of performing the touch sensing mode may include the act of activating the touch pad and deactivating the wireless charging coil.

According to various embodiments, the operation of performing the charging mode may include the operation of activating the wireless charging coil and deactivating the touch pad.

According to various embodiments, the method may include an operation of terminating the charging mode and performing the touch detection mode in response to an input of a second control key designated while performing the charging mode.

Electronic devices according to various embodiments disclosed in this document may be devices of various forms. The electronic devices may include, for example, portable communication devices (e.g., smartphones), computer devices, portable multimedia devices, portable medical devices, cameras, wearable devices, or home appliance devices. Electronic devices according to embodiments of this document are not limited to the above-described devices.

The various embodiments of this document and the terminology used herein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, but should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the embodiments. In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components. The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the items, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this document, each of the phrases "A or B," "at least one of A and B," "at least one of A or B," "A, B, or C," "at least one of A, B, and C," and "at least one of A, B, or C" can include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase, or all possible combinations thereof. Terms such as "first", "second", or "first" or "second" may be used merely to distinguish one component from another, and do not limit the components in any other respect (e.g., importance or order). When a component (e.g., a first) is referred to as "coupled" or "connected" to another (e.g., a second) component, with or without the terms "functionally" or "communicatively," it means that the component can be connected to the other component directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third component.

The term "module" as used in this document may include a unit implemented in hardware, software or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as logic, logic block, component, or circuit. A module may be an integrally configured component or a minimum unit of the component or a part thereof that performs one or more functions. For example, according to one embodiment, a module may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Various embodiments of the present document may be implemented as software (e.g., a program (140)) including one or more commands stored in a storage medium (e.g., an internal memory (136) or an external memory (138)) readable by a machine (e.g., an electronic device (101)). For example, a processor (e.g., a processor (120)) of the machine (e.g., an electronic device (101)) may call at least one command among the one or more commands stored from the storage medium and execute it. This enables the machine to operate to perform at least one function according to the called at least one command. The one or more commands may include code generated by a compiler or code executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, ‘non-transitory’ simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not contain signals (e.g. electromagnetic waves), and the term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently or temporarily on the storage medium.

According to one embodiment, the method according to the various embodiments disclosed in the present document may be provided as included in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded between a seller and a buyer as a commodity. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or may be distributed online (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) via an application store (e.g., Play Store ^TM ) or directly between two user devices (e.g., smartphones). In the case of online distribution, at least a part of the computer program product may be at least temporarily stored or temporarily generated in a machine-readable storage medium, such as a memory of a manufacturer's server, a server of an application store, or an intermediary server.

According to various embodiments, each of the components (e.g., modules or programs) described above may include a single or multiple entities. According to various embodiments, one or more of the components or operations of the aforementioned components may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into a single component. In such a case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the components of the plurality of components identically or similarly to those performed by the corresponding component of the plurality of components prior to the integration. According to various embodiments, the operations performed by the modules, programs or other components may be executed sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

Meanwhile, although various embodiments of the present invention have been described, various modifications are possible within the scope of the various embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of various embodiments of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined not only by the scope of the claims described below, but also by the equivalents of the claims.

Claims (16)

In electronic devices supporting wireless charging function,
housing;
A first sensor layer disposed within the housing and including a plurality of first electrode lines in a first direction and a plurality of first openings formed in the first electrode lines;
A second sensor layer disposed below the first sensor layer and including a plurality of second electrode lines in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a plurality of second openings formed in the second electrode lines;
a ground layer configured to be aligned with the plurality of first electrode lines or the plurality of second electrode lines; and
An electronic device comprising a wireless charging coil disposed below the second sensor layer and configured to wirelessly transmit power through the plurality of first openings and the plurality of second openings.
In paragraph 1,
An electronic device wherein the ground layer is disposed below the second sensor layer.
In the second paragraph,
The above ground layer is an electronic device disposed between the second sensor layer and the wireless charging coil.
In the second paragraph,
The above ground layer comprises at least one third opening,
An electronic device wherein power generated by the wireless charging coil is wirelessly transmitted through the plurality of first openings, the plurality of second openings, and the at least one third opening.
In paragraph 4,
An electronic device wherein said at least one third opening corresponds to at least one of the positions of said plurality of first openings or the positions of said plurality of second openings.
In paragraph 4,
An electronic device wherein said at least one third opening corresponds to at least one of the shapes of said plurality of first openings or the shapes of said plurality of second openings.
In paragraph 4,
An electronic device wherein said at least one third opening corresponds to at least one of the number of said plurality of first openings or the number of said plurality of second openings.
In paragraph 1,
An electronic device wherein the first sensor layer and the second sensor layer are configured to detect contact by an input target.
In paragraph 1,
At least one control key configured to control the wireless charging function; and
An electronic device further comprising a processor configured to activate the wireless charging coil in response to receiving input of a control key activating the wireless charging function.
In Article 9,
The above processor,
An electronic device configured to deactivate the first sensor layer and the second sensor layer when the operation of the wireless charging coil is activated.
In Article 9,
The above processor,
An electronic device configured to deactivate the wireless charging coil in response to receiving an input of a control key for deactivating the wireless charging function, in an activated state of the wireless charging function.
In Article 11,
The above processor,
An electronic device configured to activate the first sensor layer and the second sensor layer in response to receiving an input of a control key for deactivating the wireless charging function.
A method of operating an electronic device including a touch pad and a wireless charging coil, the touch pad including a plurality of electrode lines and a plurality of openings formed in the electrode lines,
An operation of performing a touch detection mode for detecting contact by an input target using at least one electrode line of the touch pad; and
A method comprising: performing a charging mode in which power is wirelessly transmitted through the plurality of openings using the wireless charging coil in response to receiving an input of a designated first control key.
In Article 13,
The operation of performing the above touch detection mode is:
A method comprising the actions of activating the touch pad and deactivating the wireless charging coil.
In Article 13,
The operation of performing the above charging mode is:
A method comprising the action of activating the wireless charging coil and deactivating the touch pad.
In Article 13,
A method comprising an operation of terminating the charging mode and performing the touch detection mode in response to an input of a second control key designated while performing the charging mode.

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